OKLAHOMA CITY — The Warriors still can't figure out a way to win in Oklahoma City, and Kevin Durant is a big reason why.

The Thunder superstar was way better than anyone on the court Friday, scoring a career-high 54 points to power Oklahoma City to a 127-121 win over the Warriors that wasn't as close as the final score indicated.

It's Golden State's 10th straight loss at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Warriors haven't won in Oklahoma City since the Thunder's first season in town in 2008.

The Warriors had no answers for Durant, the 6-foot-9 MVP candidate. He made 19 of 28 shots and was 5 of 9 from 3-point range while delivering the highest-scoring game in the NBA this season.

Oklahoma City is playing without superstar guard Russell Westbrook, out after having knee surgery. Westbrook was a Warriors' killer in two previous games this season, including hitting a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the Thunder's Nov. 29 win in Oklahoma City.

But his absence wasn't missed on this night thanks to Durant, who spoiled a 37-point, 11-assist night from Stephen Curry.

The Warriors' reinforced bench — with recently acquired guards Jordan Crawford and MarShon Brooks active for the first time — didn't provide much reinforcement.

Crawford had a nice game, hitting his first three shots and finishing with eight points. After a slow start, Marresse Speights had a strong stretch early in the fourth quarter and totaled 13 points. But Harrison Barnes finished with a goose egg — no points, no assists and no rebounds in 18 minutes. Brooks didn't leave the bench until the final two minutes.

The Warriors found ways to stay in the game until Durant took over in the fourth. The Warriors were within seven with 8 minutes left and trailed by nine when Durant hit 3s on back-to-back possessions that provided the dagger.

The first quarter was an exciting one, with Durant, Curry and Klay Thompson all reaching double figures. The Thunder was a ridiculous 18 of 23 from the field, with Durant going 7 of 8 and consistently finding easy paths to the basket.

Curry and Thompson's shooting kept Golden State in the game. Both were 3 of 4 from 3-point range in the period to limit the Warriors' first quarter deficit to 39-32.

Oklahoma City led 71-65 at the half by shooting 61.5 percent from the field. The Warriors were hot, too, particularly from downtown. They shot 53.1 percent and were 10 of 16 from 3-point range.

Curry had 22 at the half and made 4 of 6 from deep, and Thompson made 5 of 7 from beyond the arc and had 21. But the Warriors were a dreadful 11 of 21 from the free-throw line — including an 0-for-5 effort from Andrew Bogut.

· Newcomers Crawford and Brooks both talked before the game about being excited to join a contender and find a role on the team. For Crawford, that role is already fairly defined, as he will serve as the backup point guard. Brooks, a shooting guard, will have to work to earn some playing time.

Crawford was mostly a starter this season for the Boston Celtics before being traded, but he said he's comfortable in the bench role.

"I've been off the bench before," he said. "I just want to come in and provide a spark."

Brooks didn't play much for the Celtics this season and struggled to earn a role with the Brooklyn Nets after they acquired Joe Johnson last season. He said the lack of opportunity has prevented him from building on his rookie season in 2011-12 in which he averaged nearly 30 minutes a night and scored 12.6 points per game.

"A lot of my mistakes, instead of letting me play through it, I was sitting on the bench for games at a time," Brooks said. "It kind of messed with my confidence a little bit. Since then I feel I'm become a lot better player. I'm a lot more mature."

· Curry recorded his NBA-leading fifth 30-point, 10-assist game of the season.